CD Review: Dvořák and Janáček Performed by the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra
June 27, 2014 |
By Henry Schlinger | Category: Classical Music and Opera
These days,Americansymphonyorchestras are looking foryoung and exciting music directors who canbreathe newlife into whathas become a staid artformthatmostlyappeals to septua-and octogenarianaudiences.In2009,the LA Philaccomplished this witha lotoffanfare byhiring perhaps the mostsought-afteryoung conductorindecades,Gustavo Dudamel Thatsame year, the NewYork Phillanded AlanGilbert In2008,withmuchless fanfare,the PittsburghSymphony Orchestra acquired the dynamic AustrianconductorManfred Honeck,and recentlyrenewed his contractthrough2020.
Honeck’s premierrecording withthe PSOonReference Recordings,the firstinthe “Pittsburgh Live!”series,featuring three tone poems byRichard Strauss,revealed his detail-oriented approachto conducting and received rave reviews (see ourreview: http://culturespotla.com/2013/11/cd-review-strauss-performed-by-manfred-honeck-andthe-pittsburgh-symphony-orchestra/).
The second release inthe “PittsburghLive!”series features two works byCzechcomposers,the SymphonyNo.8,Op.88 inGMajor,byDvořák,and Honeck’s originalversionofthe Czech composerTomáš Ille’s arrangementofthe Symphonic Suite fromthe three-actopera “Jenůfa”by Leoš Janáček.
Anyone who is familiarwiththe Dvořák Gmajorsymphonywillfind Honeck’s interpretation remarkable Like his interpretations ofthe Strauss tone poems,Honeck takes greatliberties with the tempo and dynamics inorderto realize his vision.Forexample,intwo instances where the flute appears to imitate the callofa bird,Honeck states inthe disc’s linernotes that“itshould notbe played simplyas written buthowa bird mightsing,”inotherwords with“rubato and freedom” He also believes that“Czechhistoryand tradition”and “the typicalCzechmannerofplaying,”the latterofwhichincludes having “a little bitoffuninthe music,”should be takeninto account.The resultis a freshand exciting versionofDvořák’s eighthsymphonythatis more romanticallyrealized thanDvořák intended.
The Symphonic Suite from“Jenůfa”is a rarelyheard work bythe Czechmasteras conceptualized byHoneck.Itis beautifullyorchestrated,exquisitelyplayed and veryevocative ofthe mainthemes ofthe opera.
The performances onthis recording showwhythe PSOis stillone ofAmerica’s premierorchestras and whya conductorofHoneck’s stature was drawnto its podium
Finally,something mustbe said aboutthe recording itself.This disc,along withthe firstone inthe “PittsburghLive!”series,was recorded inmulti-channelhybrid SACD sound and brings the thrill and excitementofthe live performance into the listener’s ownhome The combinationofa thrilling performance bya world-class orchestra and conductorwiththe sonic brilliance ofthe recording sets a newstandard forclassicalCDs.
Henry Schlinger, Culture Spot LA
The disc will be available July 8 For more information, visit wwwReferenceRecordings com